Spring & Summer Annual Flowers - Five Simple Techniques to Maximize Flower Bloom.

Spring & Summer Annual Flowers - Five Simple Techniques to Maximize Flower Bloom.

By:Jonathan Manning, CLT
A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC
Denver, CO

Annual flowers can be designed to make a wonderful display in your patio container garden, annual flower bed or even dispersed among a perennial bed. There are five key elements (Soil/Soil Preparation, Plant Selection, Watering, Fertilizing, and Deadheading) to help maximize bloom to keep a colorful and inviting appearance in your garden throughout the spring and summer months.


1) Site Selection/Plant Selection


The plant material selected to grow in a container or in an annual flower bed is directly correlated to the sun’s exposure. In areas of high sun exposure you would want annual grasses, petunias, lantana, lobelia, zinnias, marigolds, daisies, geraniums, cuphea, sweet potato vine, verbena and other annual flowers and colorful vegetation to accent the area being planted. In shade areas, you want to have dahlia, ageratum, begonias, impatiens, calibrachoa, pansies, coleus, angelonia and other plants adapted to flower and be colorful in low light conditions.


2) Soil/Soil Preparation


There are two situations which will be discussed; Containers & Pots and Annual Flower Beds.


Containers & Pots


The best investment you make every year or each time you replant your containers & pots for your patio garden is the soil. Having fresh sterile soil gives a clean start by eliminating the risk of pathogens from previous years. (If flowers in a container were infected the previous year, either replace the container, sterilize the container or plant a different variety of plants in the container.). Containers & pots need a specialized soil, one that helps retain both moisture and nutrients while still supplying the necessary air for the roots. The soil needs to contain a mixture of vermiculite, perlite, moss, sand or whatever mixture for which the specific plants need.


In the Denver area a potting soil needs the ability to drain quickly, yet still hold a massive amount of water. Colorado’s intense sun rays and dry air suck the water out of the soil in the containers. It is important to have a soil mixture which will withstand Denver’s conditions.


***Regular soil from your garden should never be used, especially in Colorado. The soil does not provide the appropriate drainage required and our Colorado clay soils pull away from the sides of a container making it difficult to rewet.


Annual Flower Beds


Flowers which are being planted in the ground need a sandy loam which has a lot of organic matter. Organic matter acts as a sponge, retaining water for uptake by the colorful flowers. It is important to have a soil structure which drains well. The drainage allows oxygen into the soil, this air in the soil profile is an important factor in root growth. If the soil does not drain and remains saturated, the roots will actually suffocate or suffer hypoxia (tissue being deprived of oxygen) in the roots. This leads to roots which only function at around 10% of normal roots. If your soil is not the proper mixture, it should be amended.


Amending the soil is best done by adding organic matter in the way of composted dairy manure. This nutrient rich soil additive is relatively inert when bought completely composted and screened. In most situations for amendment of soil I recommend 5 cubic yards per 1000 square feet to be roto-tilled into the newly established annual flower bed. With the initial amendment of heavy clay or just to decrease or eliminate the need for fertilizing that year, 7 cubic yards of composted dairy manure should be used for annual flowers in Denvers soils. A different approach which is more work, is to remove the soil down one foot to 18 inches and add new planting soil or potting soil. However you wish to prepare your garden bed water should be added to “wet” the soil as to prevent the from soil sucking the water out of the new plants & flowers.


3) Watering


It is important to the survival of the plant material to have sufficient water, especially if just planted. Once planted all annual flowers and colorful vegetation needs to be thoroughly watered 2-3 times after planting. After initial watering, all plants which got knocked over should be up righted and adjusted as necessary to ensure good soil contact. Soil should be allowed to dry slightly to reduce pest and disease issues. Irrigation by a drip emitter system, drip tubing or netafim is the best way to help your annual flowers survive. Irrigation mainly acts as an insurance policy to give the minimum amount of water to survive. When combined with hand watering during the week, the vegetation really takes hold and the flowers bloom exquisitely.


***Pots need to be hand watered often. In Denver this may be twice daily, once daily or even once every couple days. As always, the weather, the size of the pot, the exposure to the sun and the type of plant material in your containers will dictate the watering schedule needed to make your patio garden look wonderful.


4) Fertilizing


Adding the needed nutrients to any plant will make it grow better, stronger and provide intense flower color. A general balanced flower fertilizer of 10-10-10 is recommended in most situations. (The numbers represent a percentage of the total contents, in this case; 10% Nitrogen - 10% Phosphorous - 10% Potassium ; the other 70% is just inert or inactive material). Each plant requires different amount of each nutrient to promote adequate vegetative growth, root growth and flowering.



With fertilizers there are two different ways it is released, immediately or over time. Great care should taken in order not to poison the plants with too much fertilizer. Miracle-gro is a quick release fertilizer and can be used every few weeks to help promote healthy growth. Too much of this fertilizer at one time and it may cause water to be unavailable to the plants. An osmocoted fertilizer pellet will fertilize the soil around it over weeks as water deteriorates the pellet layers. This is the safest way to fertilize as the amount needed to be toxic is greater with the slow release formula.


***A way to stay organic is to use a natural compost and amend the flower bed, as stated earlier.


5) Deadheading


Annual flowers generally only last one year. Their whole goal in this short life time is to reproduce. The beautiful flowers produced by the plants is the vessel of reproduction. When a flower is spent it usually means it has become fertilized and will produce a seed pod. Since the goal of annual flowers is to reproduce, most the energy created in the plant will be allocated to the production of seed. To redirect this energy, the seed pods must be removed in a process known as “deadheading.” It is important not to just remove the flower petal, but the base of the flower itself. This can usually be done by pinching the soft stem tissue with nails of your thumb & index finger. Some people prefer scissors, just remember they are dangerous tools and should be handled with care.


This combination will help your annual flowers look their best and provide spring color through to the first freeze. Please note that most annuals are annual in Denver due to the frost. In the Denver area, it is best to plant after mother’s day (May 10) to account for the frost.


Here at A Better Garden, we understand some people don’t have time to do all the work to have a great looking flower display. We will happily work with you to set up installation of flower pots, containers, annual flower beds or planting within a perennial bed. We provide full installation, maintenance and can even provide sprinkler renovation or addition to get water to your pots or new flower beds. Call us today (303) 433 - 3750 and get Annual Flower Maintenance for your home or office.

Supplemental Water in a Colorado Landscape- Do I Need a Lawn and Garden Sprinkler System in Denver?

Supplemental Water in a Colorado Landscape- Do I Need a Lawn and Garden Sprinkler System in Denver?

By:Jonathan Manning, CLT
A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC
Denver, CO

Colorado has a semi-arid, or a high plains desert, climate which needs supplemental water at times. Rainfall is inconsistent and sometimes sparse throughout Denver’s growing season. Automatic lawn and garden sprinkler systems are the best way to properly water the landscape at your Denver home or business. Just remember, most cities require contractors to pull permits and to be licensed & insured. It is important to make sure things are done correctly to prevent problems in the future.


Plants need supplemental irrigation to survive the high light intensity produced at the higher elevation of the Denver front range. The sun at our altitude can place more stress on plants at a much quicker rate. The rainfall varies from year to year. At times there is nothing but afternoon thundershowers which drench our lawns, gardens and Denver streets. Yet there is weeks of endless Colorado sunshine with high temperatures which cause drought conditions. These times make our parched plants scream for water to survive. During these periods of drought, water must be applied to prevent stress and provide healthy growth.


The best way to supplement water is with a system which efficiently provides it to the plant. It is important to ensure that the system is installed properly to achieve water wise management of the turf and garden areas. If a Denver lawn sprinkler system is not installed in a manner to irrigate similar areas with the same style of sprinkler head, or areas are not split to be ran by themselves, you will have water wasted in your landscape. Drip systems should be used whenever possible as the provide the water to the root of the plants, which deters a lot of foliage disease. Annual flowers for spring and summer color should be on a zone to allow them to be watered individually throughout the heat of the day. Make sure you hire a professional, with water wise experience, to design and install your Denver lawn sprinkler system.


At A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC we specialize in lawn sprinkler systems and garden drip irrigation systems. We provide lawn and garden sprinkler system renovations, design/build sprinkler systems based on pressure and available water, provide spring start-ups and sprinkler activation, install & service backflow devices, and also service the Denver metro area with a sprinkler repair technician & parts service. If your lawn is getting parched, needs a new sprinkler system or if you need to renovate your existing system to make it more water-wise we are here for you. Call us (303) 433-3750 to setup an appointment. Make sure you and your contractor understand the unique needs of your Denver lawn and garden landscape in order to have A Better Garden.

Fall Bulb Planting

Fall is the Time to Plant Your Bulbs

By:Whitney Gronseth

A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC
Denver, CO

The best time to plant your beautiful spring flowers like Tulips, Hyacinth, Daffidols, Crocuses, Red and Yellow Crown Imperials, Spring Starflowers, Early Snow Glories, Dwarf Irises, etc is early fall. In order to get the deepest root and the best spring bloom, these bulbs should be planted when soil temperatures reach 55 degrees or lower. Not sure what to plant? Our experts here at A Better Garden Maintenance can assist you in choosing which flowers and colors will make your spring garden look its best. Call (303) 433-3750 now to schedule planting. You can also contact us through our website http://www.abtrgarden.com/.

Spring Leaf & Garden Cleanup - Yard Restoration and Renovation

Spring Leaf & Garden Cleanup - Yard Restoration and Renovation

By:Jonathan Manning, CLT
A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC
Denver, CO

The snow is melting and the garden areas are being exposed. Now, before the buds break on the shrubs and trees, it is time to remove the leaves and debris from the garden. The leaves being left in the garden can cause issues with pests and disease. It is a great thing to remove the potential hassle and it makes the lawn & garden look great.

Here is an example, the garden below was not cleaned up for two (2) landscaping & gardening seasons.
"Accumulation of leaves & debris in the garden can cause disease and pest issues"

The important things to remember for a spring garden clean-up;

1. Cut back perennials to the "basal growth." Basal growth is the new soft shoots coming out of the base of the plants in your Denver garden. You should not have any dead plant material left on the garden perenials unless it is the shoot leading to the fresh groth.


2. Remove any overgrown sections. Gardening is about what you want to see; if you do not appreciate how the garden looks it needs to be pruned to make it look nice.


3. Large shrubs should be trimmed as needed by their species. Some shrubs such as Dogwoods are thinned to allow new colored wood. Lilacs need to be pruned after flowering in the spring. Some shrubs need to be pruned for a gradual renewal also known as sheering. Some shrubs might need to be fully rejuvenated. Schedule a gardener to come out and perform this service if you are unsure.


4. Rose bushes need to have the winter dieback and rose hips pruned out. Sometimes thinning cuts and new trellising/posting are needed to support bushes.


5. Broken Branches should be cleaned up to provide a proper & clean cut for the plant to heal.


6. Weeds should be pulled by hand or sprayed chemically to reduce issues throughout the season.


7. Leaves & garden debris should be removed with a wire rake first and then a blower should be used to give a clean garden area.


8. Top Dressing of all organic mulch beds should only be done as needed (mulch should not be deeper than 4 inches)

Below is the same picture after the garden had a spring garden cleanup was performed.

Reclaiming a garden is not only possible but a reality when we help you have A Better Garden.

CONTACT US TODAY TO SCHEDULE A SPRING CLEANUP.

(303) 433 - 3750

Annual Flowers - Spring Color

Annual Flowers - Spring Color

By:Jonathan Manning, CLT
A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC
Denver, CO

When people hear Spring Color, they think everything from flowering fruit trees, spring bulbs and the flowers people plant after the last spring frost(around mother's day in Denver). The first two, fruit trees and spring bulbs, need to be planned and planted way before spring. Flowering trees can be added while they are blooming and usually do well. Yet today, we will talk about the immediate effect of Annual Flowers.



Annual flowers are the best idea to add constant color to your property. They accent not only you garden, but the crisply cut grass as well. Yet, not all annual flowers are the same. The reason they are called annuals is, for the most part, they need to be newly planted every year. I say mainly because such flowers as snapdragons, dianthus, and even some petunias may overwinter and be growing come spring time. Some even re-seed throughout their growing season. As an annual, the only goal they have is to make more seeds to further their germplasm. Either way it is important to choose the right annuals for the location, cost, and texture.



There are lots of spring annuals to choose from to give your commercial or residential garden a burst of color. Some are better in a container garden, while others look amazing in large displays on the ground. Below are some geraniums which look amazing when well maintained (deadheading & ground aerated by hand).







Some annual flowers, such as petunias, are by far the cheapest, quickest spreading and most vibrant display of color for which you can ask. The brillant display comes with a heavy price, a lot of flower maintenance. All these petunia flowers produce seed pods, after being germinated by bees, wasps or other insects, which need to be removed. It is important to note that the whole seed pod needs to be removed, not just the dead petals & sepals. When these seed pods are removed, known as deadheading, the plant then attempts to produce more seeds. This is done by first producing more flowers for you to enjoy.



Remember, some annual flowers are specifically grown in shade or sun. Some are available because people like the unique texture they bring. The more exotic flowers should generally only be planted into flower container gardens as other flowers will highlight the complexity and uniqueness. Before planning out your annual flowers consider the height, shape, color, and other characteristics which will affect your spring color planting.



A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC just wishes to remind everyone we both install and maintain annual flowers. Please contact us for more information.